The Song That Has Left Me Obsessed

I discovered the song Northwest Passage by Stan Rogers back in August of 2025. I became totally mesmerized. According to my YouTube end of year statistics I watched 95 minutes of Northwest Passage (as I recall) and it was my most listened to track for the year. 

Since discovering this song and learning the lyrics I have become obsessed with all that I can learn about the explorers and territory of the formidable North. I had to familiarize myself with the landmarks Davis Straight and Beaufort Sea.

 I had to learn about explorers David Thompson, Alexander McKinzie, Henry Kelsey, and Sir John Franklin. The more I dug into this subject the more fascinating history and people came into my realm of knowledge. I still have so much more to delve into and study. 

So far I have learned very much from the podcast The Other States Of America. The Other States of America goes into a lot of detail about how the Native Peoples' ran their societies, as well as the various European enterprises in the New World. The segments about Champlain are a good place to start.

I have read this small book about Sir Franklin's expedition. (First book that I read in 2026!)

Last week I found this 123 year old book about American explorers at our local thrift store.

You can imagine my excitement when I saw Franklin's name in one of the chapter titles.

I am hoping to read a book about The Hudson Bay Company this year that my librarian said she can get for me through an interlibrary loan. 

And I started this audiobook called Realm of Ice and Sky not because it sounded interesting to me but it kept coming across my screen and I was desperate to find a book to listen to and I wasn't coming up with anything better. To my surprise one of  the first topics this book covered had to do with Roald Amundsen and his successful journey through the Northwest Passage!

All this learning is a testament to the powerful influence of music and poetry and I guess ultimately of beauty. In my wildest dreams I would never have been interested in learning about cold places yet I find the lyrics of the Northwest Passage inspiring and so poignant. The way Rogers conveys the excitement of discovery, the awesomeness of nature, and the spirit of those brave men who went into the unknown and untamed is beautiful to me. He was a real poet. He had a gift for putting emotion into words. Not to mention the tune, which I just love! And should I fawn about the fact that it is sung acapella? Acapella music is my favorite type of music!

Are you the kind of person that once your interest is piqued you just go all out after a subject? About what was the last thing you were really excited to learn?